Combined door and window



W. C. WATKINS COMBINED DOOR AND WINDOW May 12, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 28, 1949' Jimm M10444 5. harm/9;

M y 1953 w. c. WATKINS COMBINED DOOR AND WINDOW 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FiledJuly 28, 1949 Wm r m. W/ZL/AM a Mimi/5, 451V fe d Patented May 12, 1953UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINED noon AND WINDOW William 0. Watkins,Los Angeles, Calif.

Application July as, 1949, Serial No. 107,172

3 Claims.

My invention relates to the field of building materials, and moreparticularly toa combination door and window.

Although there is available on the market a variety of steel sash,including the window disclosed and claimed in my co-pending application,Serial No. 732.946, which has now been abandoned, these devices are notadapted for installation in structures in which it is desired to providea combination door and window. An example of such an installation is acombination door and window positioned in the wall of a structure,whereby the window is not only adapted for viewing purposes, but bylongitudinally moving one or more panels of the window a person may walkfrom the structure to a patio or terrace which is situated adjacentthereto. This particular type of combined door and window constructionis frequently desired in structures situated in desert areas, and inthose areas which enjoy a semi-tropical climate.

The purpose of my present invention is to devise such a combination doorand window, and one that will eliminate a number of the disadvantages ofconstruction and'operation which are inherent to the presently availablemetallic doors and windows. These and other objects and advantages of myinvention will become apparent from the following description of apreferred form and certain alternate forms thereof, and from thedrawings illustrating those forms in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my combination door and window;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the device taken on theline 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view of one of the sidejambs of the device;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged. horizontal cross-sectional View of the innervertical end pieces of the slidable panels in the closed position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of the lower portion of one ofthe slidable panels;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary perspective-view of the upper portion of one ofthe panels and showing the manner in which it is maintained in a vertical position; i

Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of my device taken on the linel! of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the roller support shown in Fig. 6;

Fig. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional View of the roller supports shownin Fig. 8, and taken on the line 6-5 thereof; and,

Fig. 10 is a vertical cross-sectional view of an alternate form ofroller support for a door or Window.

Referring now to Fig. 1 for the general arrangement of my combinationdoor and window, it will be seen that it includes a substantiallyrectan- 2 gular framework F having a longitudinally extending headmember H, a sill S situated thereunder, and the sill and head memberbeing connected to each end thereof by a vertical side jamb J.Longitudinally spaced and situated between the side jambs J are twostationary vertical mullions M that extend from the sill S to the headmember H. Two substantially rectangular stationary panes of glass G orother transparent material are supported in the frame F, with each panebeing situated in one of the end portions of the frame between one ofthe jambs J and mullions M. Two longitudinally movable, transparent,panels P are mounted in the frame F, and serve the dual function ofproviding a door to close the space between the two mullions M, with thepanels when so positioned also serving as windows.

The head member H as may best be seen in Figs. 6 and 7 includes asubstantially horizontal rectangular member Ill, with the member on itsrearward edge developing into a substantially vertical flange ii thatextends downwardly to terminate in a forwardly extending lip l2. Theforward edge of the member I0 is bent or formed into a substantiallyvertical flange it which on its lower edge develops into .asubstantially horizontal rearwardly extending leg M. A short verticallip it extends downwardly from the inner edge of the leg l4.

A track it which serves to movably support and maintain the panels P ina vertical position is situated within the confines of the member H, andextends longitudinally along the inner surface thereof. The track is ofT-shaped crosssection, and includes a base plate Ifia which is aflixedto the member Iii, with the plate having a vertically positioned railmember i'l extending downwardly therefrom.

The sill S is situated in the same vertical plane as the head member H,with the sill as may best be seen in Figs. 5 and 7 including anelongated horizontally positioned member 18 of substantially the samelength as the member If], and the member 18 having a vertical flange 19extending upwardly from the rearward edge thereof. The flange l9 on itsupper end develops into a forwardly extending horizontal lip 20.Adownwardly extending step is formed on the forward edge of the memberl8, and includes a flange 2|. having a horizontally positioned leg. 22extending forwardly from the lower edge thereof. A relatively shortvertically positioned member 23 extends downwardly from the forward edgeof the leg 22, and develops on its lower edge into an angularly disposedsill member 24 which has a vertically positioned lip 25 formed on theforward edge thereof. It will be apparent that both the head member Hand the sill member S can be fabricated from component strips ofmaterial to provide the above described shapes, or as I have found to bemore convenient when in volume production of my invention, to have theshapes extruded and delivered to me by the supplier in the finishedform. Although I prefer to use steel in fabricating the frame F of mycombined door and window it will be apparent that other metals may beused for this purpose, so long as they have the required physicalproperties of rigidity, resistance to corrosion and weathering, and thecapacity to withstand the hard usage to which my invention will be put.

The side jambs J as may best be seen in Figs. 2 and 3 are identical, butoppositely disposed with each jamb including a vertically positionedmember 2'! which on its forward edge develops into an outwardlyextending flange 28. The member 21 on its rearward edge develops into avertically positioned channel shaped member having two laterally spacedflanges 29 and 30,

with a Web 3| extending therebetween. Extending rearwardly from the edgeof the flange 3B is a vertically positioned member 32 which has therearward portion thereof doubled over to provide a flange 33 which isparallel to the flange 28.

The mullions M as may best be seen in Fig. 2 are identical incross-section, but oppositely disposed. Each of the mullions M includesa vertically positioned member 31 having a lip 38 extending outwardlytherefrom on the rearward edge, and a flange 39 formed on the forwardedge, with the flange 39 being parallel to the lip 38. flange 39, anddevelops on its rearward edge into an outwardly extending lip 4|.

The slidable panels P as may best be seen in Fig. 2, each include anidentical but oppositely disposed vertical member 42 that forms theouter edge thereof. The member 42 includes a substantially verticalstrip 43 having a leg 44 disposed normal thereto on the inner edgethereof. A lip 45 extends inwardly from each of the legs 44. Anoutwardly extending hooked member 6 is formed on the outer edge of themember 43, and includes a short inwardly positioned leg 47 that isadapted to be situated adjacent to the lip 4|, when the panels P are inthe closed position,

The inner vertical edge of each of the panels P is formed from anupright member 50, the cross-section of which can best be seen in Fig.4. Each of the members 50 is preferably fabricated from a strip ofmetallic material 51 which by a bending operation has a flange 52 formednormal thereto, with the flange on its free end being doubled over toprovide a second flange 53, with the inner surfaces of the flanges 53being adapted to engage the exterior surfaces of the members 51 when thepanels P are in the closed position. Extending outwardly from each ofthe flanges 53 is a member 54 that is parallel to the member 51, withthe member 54 on its outer edge developing into a rearwardly extendingleg 55 which on its free edge is formed into an outwardly extending lip56 that is situated adjacent to the outer portion of the member 5|. Uponthe two panels P being brought together to form a door for the spaceexisting between the two mullions M, the two members 56 are brought incontact with one another, and the flanges 53 overlap the members 50 toprovide a windproof joint. Each of the members 50 has a sufiicientlylarge cross-section as to permit a conventional A leg 40 extendsrearwardly from the 4 lock to be situated within the confines thereof,with the result that when the panels are in the closed position andlocked, unauthorized entry is impossible from the outside through thespace existing between the two mullions M.

The two upright members 42 and 50 of each of the panels P are heldtogether by an upwardly positioned horizontal member 58, and a similarbut oppositely disposed lower horizontal member 59. The member 58 as maybest be seen in Figs. 6 and 9 has a channel shaped cross-section whichincludes two laterally spaced vertical flanges 60 and GI which areconnected by a horizontal web 62.

A lip 63 which is in vertical alignment with the flange 60 extendsdownwardly therefrom below the web 62. I

The member 59 includes two laterally spaced flanges 64 and 65 that areconnected by a horizontal web 65, with a lip 6'! extending upwardly fromthe web and being in vertical alignment with the lip 63. Thus, it willbe seen that a rectangular pane of glass 63 can be positioned in each ofthe panels P, and when so situated will have the upper and lower edgethereof situated adjacent to the exterior surfaces of the web 62 and 66respectively. The vertical edges of the panes P when so situated in thepanels, are in contact with the exterior surfaces of the legs 44 and 45.The inner surface of each of the panes 58 when positioned in a panel Prest against the outer surface of the lips 45, 56, 63 and 6'1. Each ofthe glass panes E8 is held in position in one of the panels P by puttyor by conventional means normally used for this purpose. The lowerportion of the flange 65 is preferably flared outwardly, in order thatwater or moisture running down the pane 68 is directed outwardly fromthe flared portions towards the sill member 24.

Each of the panels P is longitudinally movable within the frame F, dueto the upper portion of each panel being supplied on each end thereofwith a roller lil which is mounted within the confines of the channelshaped member 58 as will hereinafter be explained in detail. The rollers70 are of the grooved type which permits them to engage the lower edgeof the rail I8, and thus maintain each of the panels P in a verticalposition. Two grooved rollers H are likewise mounted within the confinesof the channel shaped member 59, with the rollers H having the groovedportion thereof resting on and engaging the upper edge of a rail 72 thatextends the longitudinal length of the member [8. The rail 72 ispreferably an integral portion of a track 73 of T-shaped cross-section,which has its base plate 14 welded or otherwise secured to the uppersurface of the member l8.

Each of the rollers 70 in the upper portion of each panel P is rotatablymounted on a horizontally positioned shaft 76, with the shaft beingsupported between two laterally spaced vertical flanges T1 and T8 of achannel shaped member 19. A web connects the lower edges of the flangesT1 and 18. The ends of each of the shafts 16 extend beyond the exteriorsurfaces of the flanges H and T8, with this portion of each of theshafts being flattened to have a substantially rectangular cross-section8!. The channel shaped members 19', each of which longitudinally isrelatively short, are slidably mountedivithin the confines of a secondchannel shaped member 82 of substantially the same longitudinal lengthas the member "9, with this second member having two laterally spacedlegs 83. Each of the legs 83 has a vertically extending slot 84 formedtherein.

The outer portions 8I of each of the shafts I6 are slidably mounted inone of the slots 84, and are adapted to move upwardly and downwardlytherein. The upper portion of each of the slots 84 is peened inwardly.to prevent the shaft 16 from being inadvertently displaced therefrom.Each of the channel shaped members 82 includes a web 85 that connectsthe lower portions of the legs 83. The lower surface of each of the webs85 rests on the upper surface of the web 62. Each of the webs 85 has avertically positioned bore 86 formed therein, with the bore having thelower end of a vertically positioned helical spring 81 extendingdownwardly therethrough, and the lower end of the spring resting on theupper surface of the web 62. The spring 8! is at all times incompression, with its upper end in contact with the lower surface of theweb 80, and the spring tending at all times to move the channel shapedmember I9 upwardly whereby the roller "I is maintained in contact withthe lower edge of the rail IT.

The rollers II carry the full load of each of the panels P, with each ofthe rollers being rotatably supported on a horizontally positioned shaft39 that extends between two laterally spaced vertical flanges 90, as maybest be seen in Figs. and '7. The upper edges of the flanges 90 areconnected by a horizontally positioned web 92. The channel shapedmembers 9| like the members '19 are relatively short in length, and aremounted ing up the finished combination door and window arefabricatediby' the manufacturer, and dispatched to the structure inwhich they will be installed. Each of the frames F isinstalled in thestructure in accordance with building practice, and the glazingoperation completed therein prior to the building bein placed in use.

;The stationary panes of glass P are situated between the jambs J andthe mullions M, with each pane of glass having the bottom edge thereofresting on the upper surfaceof one ofthelegs 22, the upper horizontaledge of the glass in contact with the lower face of one of the legs I4,and the vertical edges of the glass pane in. con tact with the exteriorsurface of the legs 40 and legs 31. The inner surface of the glass restsagainst the exterior surface of the lips I5, 2 I, 20, and 38. Each ofthe panes ofglass P is held inthis position'by putty or otherconventional means normally employed for this purpose. The manner inwhich the panes [of glass 58 are mounted in the slidable panels P hasalready been discussed in detail.

With the Window thus assembled its operation is obvious. Either of thepanels P may be moved longitudinally, with. the weight of the panelsbeingsupported on the rollers "ll which travel along the upper edge ofthe rail I2. Each of the panels is maintained in an upright verticalposition by the spring 81 urging the rollers I0 upwardly into contactwith the lower edge of the rail I8. It will be noted that when thepanels P are moved together into a closed position, the two uprightmembers engage one another to provide a windproof joint. It will beapparent that the window can be further windproofed by the use ofweather stripping on certain portions thereof, such as the concavewindow stripping 99 affixed to the flange 65, and extending inwardly tocontact the outer vertical face of the rail I2. The weather stripping ismanufactured from a somewhat resilient material, which tends to keep theinner edge of the strip in contact with the rail I2 at all times.

Should it be desired to remove one of the panels P from the frame F, thepanel is moved upwardly to further compress the springs 81,

which upward movement permits the rollers H to be removed from the rail12. The complete panel P can then be moved downwardly and removed fromthe frame F. To place a panel P in the frame F the above describedoperation is simply reversed.

In some instances it may be desired to slidably mount a door or windowontwo vertically spaced, horizontally mounted rails [0| and I02 as maybest be seen in Fig. 10. In the event it is wooden door W, a number ofrecesses I03 of annular crosssection are formed along the lower edgethereof, with similar recesses I04 being formed along the upper portion.Each of .the recesses I03 has an inverted metallic cup I05 of annularcross-section inserted therein, withthis cup holding a second cup I06 inwhich a horizontally positioned shaft I0! is mounted between thesidewalls thereof. A grooved roller I 09 is rotatably mounted on theshaft I01, with the grooved portion of the roller engaging the upperportion of the rail IOI A metallic cup 0 is slidably inserted in each oftherecesses I04, with the cup having a. vertically positioned bore IIIformed in the'lower portion thereof. A' vertically positioned helicalspring IIZ has the lower portion thereof extending downwardly throughthe bore III to have the lower portion of the spring rest on theportionof the door W situated under the cup IIO. A second cup I I3 isslidably mounted in the cup IIO,.with the lower portion of the cup H3resting on the upper end of the spring H2. A horizontally positionedshaft I It extends between the side walls of the cup H3, with the outerends of the cup extending beyond the side walls of the cup I I3, andbeing flattened to a substantially rectangular portion I 54a. The shaftportions I I 411 are -slidably mounted in vertically positioned boresll5 formed in the vertical side walls of the cup I I0. A grooved rollerI I7 is mounted on each of the shafts I I I, with the grooved portion ofthe roller engaging the rail I02, and being at all timesheldin contacttherewith due to the spring II2 being in compression and tending to movethe cup I I3 upwardly. The operation of a door or window movablysupported in this manner, can be removed from therails It! and I02 inthe same m anner as described in connection with the panels P. 1

should it be desired to provide a screen S for the device, the formshown in Fig. 5 may be employed. An inverted L-shaped track I25 iswelded or otherwise affixed to the forward face of the head memberH,.and extends the longitudinal length thereof. Two longitudinallyextending L-shaped members I20, each of the same length as the panels P,have a plurality of rollers I21 supported from the rearwardly positionedflange I28 thereof. The rollers are adapted to movably support themembers I26 on the track I25.

A rectangular member I29, preferably formed of wood, extends thelongitudinal length of the member I26 and is affixed by screws to theforwardly positioned flange thereof. The screen S is affixed byconventional clamping means I3I to the lower portion of the member I29,with the screen extending downwardly to a horizontal longitudinallyextending inverted U-shaped member (not shown), which engages a similarbut oppositely disposed member (not shown) amxed to the sill S. Thus,the screen can be longitudinally moved to close the opening between themullions M when the panels P are in the open position.

While the above described combination door and window has been found toprovide the advantages and attain the objects hereinbefore stated, it isto be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presentlypreferred embodiment of my invention, and that I do not mean to limitmyself to the details of construction, other than as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. A window and door structure that includes: a substantiallyrectangular frame having a horizontally disposed head member and a sillmemher, said head member and sill member having oppositely disposedlongitudinally extending rails formed as a part thereof that are invertical alignment; a rectangular panel movable longitudinally in saidframe, said panel having a horizontal head member having vertical sidesand a horizontal bottom and a horizontal base member having verticalsides and a horizontal top; a plurality of pairs of nesting membersremovably mounted in longitudinally spaced relationship within theconfines of said panel head member, the outermost of each of said pairsof nesting members having their vertical sides formed with alignedvertical slots and their horizontal bottoms formed with an aperture, theinnermost of each of said pairs of nesting members having their verticalsides formed with a pair of horizontally aligned bores; a horizontalshaft disposed between each of said pairs of bores and having their endsextending outwardly therefrom so as to be vertically slidable withinsaid slots; a grooved roller mounted on each of said shafts; a helicalspring interposed between the bottom of each of said innermost membersand the aperture formed in the bottom of each of said outermost membersso as to bias said innermost members and said rollers upwardly againstthe head member-supported rail: and a plurality of grooved rollerssupported between the sides of said base member for rolling engagementwith. said sill-supported rail.

2. A window and door structure that includes: a substantiallyrectangular frame having a horizontally disposed head member and a sillmemher, said head member and sill member having oppositely disposedlongitudinally extending rails formed as a part thereof that are invertical alignment: a rectangular panel movable longitudinally in saidframe, said panel having a horizontal head member of U-shaped crosssection and a horizontal base member of inverted U-shaped cross section;a plurality of first U- shaped members removably mounted inlongitudinally spaced relationship within the confines of said panelhead member, each of said U- shaped members having their vertical legsformed with aligned vertical slots and their lower leg formed with anaperture; a plurality of second U-shaped members, each beingslidably-nested within one of said first U-shaped members and havingtheir vertical legs formed with a pair of horizontally-aligned bores; ahorizontal shaft disposed between each of said pairs of bores and havingtheir ends extending outwardly therefrom so as to be vertically slidablewithin each of said pairs of slots; a grooved roller mounted between thevertical legs of each of said second U-shaped members by said shafts; ahelical spring interposed between the bottom of the horizontal leg ofeach of said second U-shaped members and the aperture formed in each ofsaid first U-shaped members so as to bias said second U-shaped membersand said rollers upwardly against the head member-supported rail; and, aplurality of grooved rollers supported between the sides of said basemember for rolling engagement with said sill-supported rail.

3. A window and door structure that includes: a substantiallyrectangular frame having a horizontally disposed head member and a sillmember, said head member and sill member having oppositely disposedlongitudinally extending rails formed as a part thereof that are invertical alignment; a rectangular panel movable longitudinally in saidframe; a plurality of cup-shaped members rigidly mounted by the upperportion of said panel, the side Walls of each of said members beingformed with aligned vertical slots and the bottom wall of each of saidmembers being formed with an aperture; a plurality of smaller cupshapedmembers telescopically and vertically slidably disposed within saidcup-shaped members, the side walls of each of said smaller cup-shapedmembers being formed with a pair of horizontally aligned bores; ahorizontal shaft disposed between each of said pairs of bores and havingtheir ends extending outwardly therefrom so as to be vertically slidablebetween each of said pairs of slots; a grooved roller mounted betweenthe side walls of each of said smaller cup-shaped members by saidshafts; a helical spring interposed between the under side of each ofsaid smaller cup-shaped members and the aperture formed in saidcup-shaped members so as to bias said smaller cup-shaped members andsaid rollers upwardly against the head member-supported rail; and aplurality of cup-shaped members rigidly mounted by the lower portion ofsaid panel, each of said members supporting a grooved roller adapted forrolling engagement with the sill-supported rail.

WILLIAM C. WATKINS.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 1,569,602 Anderson Jan 12, 1926 1,929,977 Jacobson Oct. 10,1933 1,930,379 Bennett Oct. 10, 1933 2,076,877 Brown Apr. 13, 19372,144,782 Swanson Jan. 24, 1939 2,177,462 Schunk Oct. 24, 1939 2,363,121Edwards Nov. 21, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 743,146 France1933

